Dutch consumers more pessimistic

28/10/2008 15:00

After a short recovery in August and September, Dutch consumer confidence decreased in October. The indicator dropped from -22 to -27. Consumers were especially more negative about the economic climate. Willingness to buy decreased too, in particular because consumers were more negative about buying expensive items.

Indicators consumer confidence

Pessimism about the economic climate grew substantially. Consumers were more pessimistic about both the economic situation in the past twelve months and the economic situation in the next twelve months. In August and September, the confidence in the economic climate improved.

Consumers’ willingness to buy decreased in October, in particular because they were more negative about buying expensive items, such as washing machines and cars. They have not been so negative about buying expensive items since the beginning of 2006. Consumers were also more sombre about the immediate financial future of their own household. However, they viewed their own financial situation in the past twelve months as less negative.

Consumer confidence, seasonally adjusted

The survey took place in the first ten working days of October, i.e. from Wednesday 1 up to and including Tuesday 14 October.